University of Houston Law Center Announces Andrews Kurth Energy Law Scholars Program

Initiative underscores the Law Center’s commitment to scholarship and the future of energy and environmental law.

Sept. 17, 2012 – The University of Houston Law Center, in partnership with the law firm of Andrews Kurth, is launching a professional program to encourage scholarship and academic interest in energy law.

During the next three years, the Andrews Kurth Energy Law Scholars program will bring five accomplished individuals to the Law Center where they will teach one class and devote time to research, writing, and other scholarly pursuits. The goal is to advance understanding of energy law while encouraging the scholars to pursue careers as law professors. The energy scholars bring a diversity of backgrounds, spanning the country from Boston to San Francisco and internationally from Venezuela to China, with careers and academic experiences ranging from corporate counsel to professors.

“The Law Center’s commitment to energy and environmental law is longstanding and recognized at home and around the world. The Andrews Kurth Energy Law Scholar’s program takes that commitment to the next level, and we are very pleased to have their ongoing support,” said University of Houston Law Center Dean Raymond T. Nimmer.

“Houston is synonymous with energy," says Bob Jewell, Andrews Kurth managing partner. “We are proud to partner with a great university to help further scholarship in this important area."

Three scholars began this fall: Julian Cardenas Garcia, a Venezuelan attorney and doctoral research fellow at the French Center of International Trade and Investment Law; Susan D. Maples, a Columbia Law School graduate and current natural resources adviser to the president of Liberia; and Susan L. Sakmar, an author and adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco Law School.

Two more scholars will arrive for the fall 2013 semester: Justin Dargin, a fellow at a Middle Eastern oriented research arm of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs-Harvard University and a doctoral candidate at Oxford; and Monika Ehrman, general counsel to a Dallas-based oil and gas company and a former petroleum engineer and practicing attorney with extensive experience in the energy field. She is currently enrolled in the Yale Law School LL.M. program.

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 39,500 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.

About the University of Houston Law Center

The University of Houston Law Center is the leading law school in the nation's fifth-largest legal market. Founded in 1947, it is a top-tier institution awarding Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees. The Law Center is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the American Association of Law Schools.

About Andrews Kurth LLP

For more than a century, Andrews Kurth has built its practice on the belief that “straight talk is good business.” Real answers, clear vision and mutual respect define the firm’s relationships with clients, colleagues, communities and employees. With 400 lawyers and offices in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Houston, London, New York, Research Triangle Park, The Woodlands and Washington, DC, Andrews Kurth represents a wide array of clients in multiple industries. For more information about Andrews Kurth, please visit andrewskurth.com.